SUZUKA, Japan — Kamui Kobayashi gave the home fans a thrill when he become the first Japanese driver to claim a podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix in 22 years.

The Sauber driver started from third on the grid and maintained his position to finish the race at the Suzuka circuit behind Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.

Kobayashi held off a strong late challenge from McLaren’s Jenson Button — for his first-ever Formula One podium, becoming the first Japanese driver on a podium in Japan since 1990.

Kobayashi prevailed by a half a second to become the first Japanese since Aguri Suzuki in 1990 to celebrate on the podium in front of home fans.